Today at 9:00, Saturday, 16 October 2010, optional memorial of St.
Hedwig, Duchess of Silesia and Poland, religious, and St. Margaret
Mary Alacoque, virgin, with the chant of the Third Hour, the Tenth
General Congregation began, for the presentation of the Scheme of
the Message, for discussion on the Message and for the First Voting
of the Special Council for Africa of the General Secretariat of the
Synod of Bishops.

At the opening of the Tenth General Congregation intervened, the
President of the Commission for the Message H. Exc. Mons. Cyrille
Salim BUSTROS, S.M.S.P., Archbishop of Newton of the Greek-Melkites
(UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) and the Vice President H. Exc. Mons.
William Hanna SHOMALI, Titular Bishop of Lydda, Auxiliary Bishop of
Jerusalem of the Latins (JERUSALEM) , for the reading in french of
the draft of the Message (Nuntius), drawn in french and arabe.

At Synodal assemblies, it has been the practice to publish a Nuntius
(Message) addressed to the People of God, particularly to the
various categories of persons directly associated with the Synodís
topic. Pastoral in nature, the Nuntiusí purpose is to encourage the
People of God to respond faithfully to their proper vocation, and to
praise them for the efforts already being made.

Then, a discussion took place on the draft of the Message, presented
by the President of the Commission for the preparation of the
Message.

After noting the observations of the Assembly during the discussion
in the Hall, the Commission for the Message prepares the definitive
text which is later submitted to the Assembly for its approval. The
definitive text of the Nuntius is published at the end of the
synodís work and is reported in the different linguistic edition of
the Synodus Episcoporum Bullettin.

After the break, the first vote in electronic form took place for
the election of the Members of the Special Council for the Middle
East of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.

In the same way as in the Ordinary General Assembly, at the end of
the Special Assembly a Special Council of the General Secretariat is
constituted. Like the Ordinary Councils, it is formed of Members
elected by the Special Assembly, with added Members nominated by the
Roman Pontiff.

The election of the Members takes place by secret ballot and becomes
legally binding when, the void votes having been subtracted, an
absolute majority of voters is in favor, or, after the first
unresolved ballot, a relative majority is obtained at the second. If
the votes are equal, C.I.C., can. 119, 1st applies.

The Members of the Special Council of the Secretary General hold
office for a period of five years, at the end of which the Roman
Pontiff will decide on the extension of the council and confirm this
or the substitution of its Members.

The Council of the Secretary General will collaborate with Secretary
General in giving advice for carrying out what has been proposed by
the Synod and approved by the Roman Pontiff, and on other questions
assigned to it by the Roman Pontiff.

The Members of the Council of the Secretary General are called
together twice a year by the Secretary General as well as on any
other occasion when, in the judgment of the Roman Pontiff, it is
opportune.

Many people want to hear something about Iraq that today occupies an
important position in the Middle East, a position that is a little
bit, if I say, exagerated: I sincerely thank all those who have
spoken about Iraq in this hall and have shown their sympathy for
this country that is the cradle of Christians and especially the
cradle of the Chaldean Church, the Eastern Church in the Persian
Empire, and as of today, 78% of Mesopotamian Christians are Chaldean
Catholics. The population of this country, crossed by two famous
rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates, is 24 million, all Muslims,
with whom we live peacefully and freely. In Baghdad alone, the
capital of Iraq, Christians have 53 chapels and churches. The
Chaldeans have more than seven dioceses in the country, the
Patriarch of the Chaldean Church lives today in Baghdad.
Christians are good with their fellow Muslims and in Iraq there is
mutual respect among them. Christian schools are highly thought of.
Today people prefer to attend these schools directed by the
Christian institutions, especially those run by the religious
orders.
Despite all the political and religious situations, and emigration,
we now have nearly one million Christians in Iraq out of 25 million
Muslims. We have the freedom of religion in our Churches.
The Bishop or Priest, religious leader is listened to and respected
by his fellow citizens.
We have our own seminary, and Chaldean monks and nuns and religious.